Wearing apparel



Nov; 8, 1927.

' R. J. o. SIMPSON WEARING APPAREL Filed Deo. 19, 1923 v Patented Nov. 81, lgaf?.y

ROBERT J. o. sIMPsoN,-0F ATHoL, MASSACHUSETTS.

WEARING APPAREL.

Appiication mea December 19, 1923. serial No. 681,534.

In certain articles of wearing apparel the desirability of means of forming a close, smooth fastening along the line of vopening is of paramountimportance. I/Vhether this be a matter of needed physical-supportpor of comfort to the wearer or of appearance to others, the closing of such an opening has been long sought and although closely approximated has never been brought to ultimate perfection.

My present invention has been developed as a surgical stocking or bandage or support and as such affords an excellent illustration of its application as well as providingan article of great utility in cases of varicose veins and the like I will discuss it particularly in connection with such an appliance. Throughout the specification and drawings like reference characters are employed to indicate corresponding palrts, and in the drawings F ig. l is a side view of a stocking in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of i the same.

Fig. 8 is a detailed fragment showing the inside of the opening. Y

' Fig. l is a similar fragmentary view with the overlying flaps cut away, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5, Fig. 1.

The stocking portion l is usually especially made so as to carefully iit the ymember which it is to support or confine. It may, however, be of any con-struction or material and the seamed and fitted form is merely shown as one most difficult to draw up snugly and smoothly. It will be understood that in a device of this sort it is vimportant that the limb be rather snugly encased without being too tight. In the case of the leg and ankle, it is extremely desirable that the so-called stocking be smooth so that the limb will not appear needlessly ungainly or misshapen under the holes.

The stocking member shown4 is vertically divided as at 2. The edges of this division are formed, as will be seen in Fig. 5, by forming a series of eyelets 3 adjacent the edge of the material on each side and along the line of each side which is to constitute PATENT; po! Frlcl'a..

the edge 2. In finishing, the edge portion 11 i of the stocking isfold-ed backsojthat the eyelets 3 are left on the edge. This portion is then stitched down as at 4 and the edges preferably covered byl astitched strip 5y which binds the edge and strengthens it. The stocking is laced by a pair of lacings L. These are worked through by curved needles N by passing the needle from one eyelet to the next on rone edge and then `crossing to the opposite eyelet passing to the next onV that edge `and then returning toY the opposite eyelet on the firstledge and so on. The edges are therefore-drawnA close together withr the eyelets in registry and with thev lacings crossing each other at each opposed pair of eyelets. On'each side between the eyelets there is a length of lacing laid within and covered by the overturned seam. After the stocking is once laced upon the leg it may be removed at any time by looseningone end of the lacing, as for example at the upper end. For this purpose the lacings L are preferably provided long enough so that the lacing ycan be travelled down and the opening spread for the full length without the necessity of again threading in the lacings by the us-e of a needle.

While my invention is of great importance in the form shown and described, it will be understood that it has other applications and that a device such as is herein shown or .otherwise may be variously modified all without departing from they spirit of my in. vention if within the limits of the appended claim.

What, I therefore claim and desire to sei cure by Lett-ers Patent is:

A surgical stocking consisting of a shaped length of sheet material longitudinally divided from end to end thereof to providev channels being pierced at said overfoldedy edges by oppositely disposed eyelets larjranged in spaced relation longitudinally of the stocking, and a lacing foreach channel,

`each lacing being passed from one eyelet to the next eyelet on one edge vof the stocking -sa-d opposite eyelet being carried to the eyelet next above on -said opposing edge and Y being finally returned to the opposite eyelet on the first-named edge, @whereby vv'vhen .the

edgesv are drawn together the'lacings cross each other at opposite eyelets and those portions of the lacings between two spaced pairs of opposite eyelets are disposed Within and covered by the seams formed by said channels.

n In testimonyf'vherefl affix my signature. ROBERT "'J OSIMPSON. 

